Physical Science Technologies/Technicians at College of the Mainland
Texas City, TX · Public · Associate Degree
TradeSchoolWorth Score (Base Case)
72
Strong Growth
70
Base Case
64
Conservative
Earnings
$49,694/yr (-9% vs median)
AI-Proof
Resilient (63% shielded)
Job Market
Large (40,600 openings/yr)
Future-Proof Earnings
Three scenarios modeling future earnings based on technology adoption rates and job market trends for Physical Science Technologies/Technicians graduates.
| Strong Growth Full Stability |
Base Case Moderate Changes |
Conservative Max Disruption |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-Year Earnings | $1,918K | $806K | $392K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 540.8x | 227.4x | 110.6x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 247.6x | 104.1x | 50.6x |
| Viable Career Paths | 7 of 7 | 7 of 7 | 7 of 7 |
| TradeSchoolWorth Score | 72 | 70 | 64 |
10-Year Earnings Projection
*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as technology and market conditions evolve over time.
Program Tuition (In-State)
$3,546
Out-of-state: $7,746
Median Debt at Graduation
$11,529
2.8 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$133,394
168% growth from Year 1
Career Paths
Where Physical Science Technologies/Technicians graduates typically work. Raw data — no blending. The scenarios above model how these factors interact. This field has roughly 40,600 combined openings per year.
| Career Path | Wage | Openings/yr | Growth | AI-Proof |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chemical plant and system operators | $73,540 | 1,600 | -6.1% | 85% |
| Life, physical, and social science technicians, all other | $60,130 | 10,600 | +3.5% | 45% |
| Hydrologic technicians | $58,570 | 400 | -2.1% | 50% |
| Chemical technicians | $57,790 | 6,700 | +3.7% | 61% |
| Chemical equipment operators and tenders | $57,090 | 14,400 | +3.3% | 85% |
| Environmental science and protection technicians, including health | $49,490 | 5,600 | +4.0% | 54% |
| Geological technicians, except hydrologic technicians | $48,390 | 1,300 | +1.5% | 61% |
Compare & Explore
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the TradeSchoolWorth Score for Physical Science Technologies/Technicians at College of the Mainland?
This program scores 70/100 in the Base Case scenario, factoring in earnings, AI resilience, job market size, and earnings multiple. The score ranges from 64 (conservative) to 72 (strong growth) depending on market conditions.
How AI-proof is a career in Physical Science Technologies/Technicians?
We model three scenarios: Strong Growth (full career stability), Base Case (moderate changes), and Conservative (maximum disruption). In the base case, Physical Science Technologies/Technicians graduates retain 7 of 7 viable career paths. 10-year earnings range from $392,244 (conservative) to $1,917,767 (strong growth).
How many job openings are there for Physical Science Technologies/Technicians graduates?
The career paths mapped to Physical Science Technologies/Technicians have roughly 40,600 combined job openings per year nationally, making this a large job market.
Is Physical Science Technologies/Technicians at College of the Mainland worth it?
In the Base Case, this program earns 227.4x its tuition over 10 years. Even in the Conservative scenario, the multiple is 110.6x. The narrow spread between scenarios shows how stable trade careers are compared to desk jobs.
Data: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (earnings, debt), Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024-2034
(employment projections), OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs research (AI task exposure), Felten et al. AIOE.
Scenarios model earnings resilience using AI exposure data and BLS job growth projections.
"Earnings Multiple" is total 10-year projected earnings divided by tuition — not a discounted financial ROI.
Last updated 2026.